Hey guys… please don't hate me for not updating… but with school starting up and tennis practice taking up most of my day… things have been a little crazy. But here it is… the LONG awaited chapter 3. I promise that I will try my hardest to update sooner… Enjoy!

Chapter 3: The return of a fellow seishi

Miaka woke up to find herself in a strange room that she had never remembered being in. Where am I? Miaka rubbed her throbbing head, not able to get the pain to go away. Getting up slowly, Miaka sat up in her bed. She heard someone in the other room, trying to be quiet… but they weren't doing a very good job of it. She heard a glass hit the floor followed quickly by "Dammit". Getting out of bed, she went over to the door and looked around it to see Tasuki picking up the shattered pieces and cursing under his breath. She quickly closed the door and leaned up against it. She felt sweat trickling down her neck… there he was. Tasuki. He must've been watching over her while she was sick. It all had started coming back to her now… the recent events following hers and Tamahome's breakup.

…their breakup…

It was all coming back to her now…Taka bringing another girl home.

Miaka looked over at the girl that was standing at Taka's side, "And who's she?"

"Nobody." Taka answered.

"Don't tell me nobody! Who is she?" Miaka asked again. The girl that was standing next to Taka wrapped her arm around Taka's waist. This was answer enough for her.

"Miaka, this isn't what it looks like."

"Well that's a relief! Because it looked to me like you are cheating on me."

"Miaka…" Taka started.

"Save it Taka." Miaka got up form the couch. As much as it hurt for her to say this she knew it had to be said, "Taka… it's over."

Tears now formed in her eyes. How stupid could she get? She thought that Taka loved her, but not everything is as good as it seems.

Tasuki picked up the last piece of glass and threw it away. He had heard Miaka crying but he didn't go try to help her, he wouldn't be of much help. It had to have something to do with Tamahome or Taka, whatever the hell he calls himself these days.

Suddenly Miaka stopped crying and he saw her open the door, looking towards the ground.

"Miaka…" Tasuki started. Miaka looked up form the ground, obviously startled.

"T-Tasuki? I didn't realize you were here." She said lying. Tasuki looked into her eyes, which had turned a pale shade of red and they had started to turn a little puffy.

"Miaka… whatza matter?" Tasuki asked going to her side and wiping the remaining tears off of her face.

"Nothing…" Miaka managed to whisper.

"Don't tell me nothing." Tasuki said, pushing her against a wall. Her eyes filled with fear.

"Listen… sumthin' is wrong with ya. Tell me what it is." Tasuki loosened his grip on her shoulders a little bit.

"Tasuki…?"

"What?"

"…"

"What!" Tasuki asked, sounding more annoyed then he intended to be.

"Nevermind."

"Miaka…"

"Nevermind." Miaka decided against telling Tasuki about Taka, she wasn't ready yet. Tasuki let go of Miaka's shoulders but still remained in front of her. She was looking towards the ground, trying to avoid his gaze.

Tasuki could tell that Miaka was purposely trying to avoid looking at him, and he wasn't going to move until she caved in. He wanted her back for a reason… and things weren't going as planned.

Miaka couldn't stand it anymore. She finally looked up and her eyes met Tasuki's. His amber eyes were powerful and his gaze did not stray from hers. Miaka began to blush slightly… in some weird, twisted way… Tasuki looked sorta… hot. Which sorta made Miaka feel a little awkward.

Tasuki finally let her go, but she didn't move away, she just stared back into his eyes, not knowing what to do.

"You can just tell me when you're ready." Tasuki said, after he realized that Miaka wasn't going to say anything. Miaka watched as Tasuki went into another room, cursing under his breath.

"Miaka?" a blue haired monk said as Miaka's chi had finally became noticeable.

"Why is she possibly here no da?" He added as he stood up from the log he was currently sitting on. He recognized the other chi that came from the same source as hers, and it wasn't Taka's, but the fiery haired seishi, Tasuki.

The monk grabbed his kasa and began to go towards the priestess' chi. If she was here, something had to be wrong.

Taka decided to take a walk after Miaka ran out of the house like that.

"Taka… it's over." Miaka's voice kept ringing in his head. He screwed up, real bad too. Miaka deserved better than this.

"Where could she possibly have gone?" he said quietly to himself as he walked the lonely streets of the night. He looked down at the engagement ring Miaka had given him the day he planned to return into the book, back to Konan. She cried, she didn't want to see him go. After all they had been through together… he really messed it up.

Miaka went outside, the warm afternoon sun felt good against her skin. Her mind wandered onto the thought of Tasuki. He was always so protective of her… and now, at a time when she needed him the most, she didn't even have the courage to tell him what's on her mind.

Tasuki watched Miaka sit on a rock from the window in his room. She was always so happy, but that was 4 years ago. Back when she was with Tamahome. She always had a smile on her face…but he hasn't seen that smile since she came back to Konan. He was determined, not only to make her happy… but to also bring that smile back on her face.

A few hours later

Miaka had barely spoken to Tasuki since their encounter that morning, but she kept thinking of him. He had gotten more masculine since she had left and had seen him last. Could she dare to say that maybe she was starting to have mixed emotions for a certain seishi of hers?

Miaka's thoughts were interrupted as an oh-to-familiar looking object started to descend before her eyes.

"CHICHIRI!" Miaka said she got up and ran over to the monk's kasa. Chichiri emerged from it head first and he immediately was caught in a hug from Miaka.

"It's good to see you Miaka." Chichiri said as he returned her embrace.

"Oh Chichiri! It's been so long!" Miaka replied. Chichiri still looked like his same old self. It's like nothing had changed about him since she last left the Universe of the Four Gods.

Chichiri let Miaka go and asked, "So Miaka… what brings you back to Konan? Is Tamahome with you?" At this question Chichiri saw Miaka's expression go from joy to sadness.

"Taka- I mean Tamahome, isn't here…it's just me." Miaka tried to bring a smile to her face, but found it hard. Chichiri recognized this immediately and changed the subject.

"Tasuki!" Chichiri said as Tasuki emerged from his house.

"Chichiri!" Tasuki replied. Tasuki and Chichiri began talking amongst themselves. Miaka looked over at her two loyal seishi.

It's good to be home. Miaka said to herself.

Tasuki looked over at Miaka who for the first time in days, smiled. That's how I like her.

A/N: OMG! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry for not updating sooner! And this is def. not as long as my other chapters but I wanted to put something up here… you guys have been waiting long enough. I know Tasuki and Miaka weren't together a lot in this chapter… but I plan to change that in the next chapter or so. Please R&R!

bubbles078 xoxox